His first impression was that he had materialized at the point of a gun. That was his thought as he stared at the tubular-shaped, lethal-looking instrument a grim-faced and very blue Pandronian was pointing directly at his chest. Glancing around, he saw that the little group was surrounded by similarly armed, equally determined Pandronians.
"What's this all about, bn Bem?" McCoy asked, fighting to keep his anger in check.
"An explanation would certainly seem to be in order, Commander," Spock added more calmly. But he didn't take his eyes off the Pandronian covering him.
"A precaution only, gentlemen," the commander assured them. He spoke to the guards in his own language. Abruptly the weapons went vertical and the intimidating circle turned into an escort of honor.
"This way, please," bn Bem indicated. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy followed the commander at a rapid pace down a high-ceilinged, triangular-shaped corridor, their former captors flanking them on either side.
"I still do not understand," Spock persisted.
"Is sad to admit, Spock Commander," bn Bem proceeded to explain, "but are somewhat paranoid we Pandronians where other races are concerned. As was This One until enlightening experience on Delta Theta Three."
Privately Kirk felt that describing Pandronians as "somewhat paranoid" severely understated their state of mind, but it would have been undiplomatic to argue the point.
They turned several bends in the corridor as Spock wondered aloud, "How did the guards know where we were going to materialize, Commander? You had no contact with the surface prior to our beaming down."
"Oh, is standard landing coordinates for all un-Pandronian visitors," bn Bem told them. "Detectors in chamber sense utilization of various transporter fields and so are alerted the guards."
That satisfied the first officer. It also inspired Kirk to reflect on the fact that the Pandronians were an advanced people whose friendship was well worth cultivating even if their personalities could be somewhat disagreeable.
It also caused him to wonder how the Tam Paupa could have been stolen, since the Pandronians were clearly very security-minded.
A final bend in the corridor and they came up against a closed and guarded door. Commander bn Bem spoke to the two neatly uniformed guards standing before it, and the little party was admitted instantly.
The room they entered was roughly circular in shape. A broad window across the floor showed that they were at least thirty meters above the surface of Pandro. A view of the disjointed Pandronian architecture of the capital city of Tendrazin was visible through the transparent acrylic. Green trees and fuzzy growths of all kinds brightened the cityscape, as would be expected on a world which was primarily savanna and jungle.
The chamber itself was domed, the roof blending into walls of blue, green, and yellow tile. Light filled the room, courtesy of the vast oval skylight above. Where the skylight met the walls, the glass or plastic was composed of multihued mosaics depicting scenes from Pandronian history.
From various points above, globular lamps hung by long thin tubes to provide additional illumination. Scroll cases and sealed cabinets of a wood like oiled cherry lined the walls, alternating with closed doors.
A large half-moon desk of darker wood rested on a raised dais at the far end of the impressive chamber, backed by the sweeping window. Several rows of curved, thickly padded benches formed concentric arcs before it, the seats adjusted to accommodate the Pandronian physique.
"This is the innermost Pthad," bn Bem explained with a touch of pride in his voice, "the seat of our government. Here meet the integrals of the high council to determine policy for all Pandro."
McCoy's attention was focused not on the sumptuous appointments or the view of the city beyond, but on something sandwiched between two nearby cabinets.
"What's that?"
bn Bem glanced in the direction indicated by the doctor. "Is one of the premier's favorite pets."
McCoy strolled over to the large rectangular cage. It was formed of narrow slats of some bright gray metal. Its floor was covered with what appeared to be a mixture of natural growth and dry wood shavings.
Resting in the center of the cage floor lay an animal. It had a plump round body covered with bristly brown fur about a centimeter in length. Seven pairs of legs protruded from seven clearly defined segments. A double tail tipped one end while a tiny ball of a head indicated the other. A single eye glared from its center, with nostrils set to either side and a mouth both above and below the eye.
At the moment, the apparition was munching sedately on some leaves or green paper—Kirk couldn't decide which. It peered up at the onlookers, its single blue eye blinking placidly.
"Not a very cuddly-looking pet," McCoy commented with distaste.
"The diccob is amusing, though," countered bn Bem, "and responsive. Watch."
Clapping his hands twice, the commander let out a low-pitched whistle. Immediately the diccob eyed him—and went all to pieces. Literally.
Eight sections, including the head, fell away from each other and performed a little scurrying dance, weaving about themselves. As if on cue, they unexpectedly came together. Only now the diccob stood erect, a bipedal form. Two segments served as legs, three as a body above, with a pair for arms topped by the head. The twin tail had also divided itself, and each tail formed a gripping tentacle at the terminus of each arm.
Apparently as content in this new shape as in its former one, the diccob returned to its eating. Kirk wondered at the marvels of adaptive internal physiology which permitted such rapid dissolution and reforming without any evident harm or loss of efficiency to the animal.
"Amusing, is not?" bn Bem inquired.
" 'Fascinating' would be a better term," a thoroughly engrossed Spock suggested. "Is it capable of assuming more than two forms?"
"Watch," was all the commander said. Under his hand and voice directions, the diccob executed several more collapses and reassemblies, concluding with a fully circular shape which rolled spiritedly around the cage like an animated wheel, the cyclopean head tucked safely on the interior of the wheel.
"Some diccobs," bn Bem explained to his mesmerized audience, "only one or two new combinations can manage. Premier's diccob can do twenty nearly. Is prizewinner."
"I can imagine," McCoy said. "My stomach does flip-flops just watching it."
"Is the diccob the most flexible form of Pandronian life?" Spock inquired curiously, "or are there other native types equally adjustable?"
"Difficult to answer that question is," bn Bem began, his tone oddly thoughtful. "To understand, first you must know that on Pandro is—"
The commander's reply was interrupted by a soft chime. Everyone turned toward the direction of the sound.
One of the numerous doors on the other side of the room opened inward and two Pandronians entered the chamber. One appeared to be slightly younger than Commander bn Bem, while the other, judging from his movements and coloring, was of an advanced age. Touches of yellow had crept into his natural blue skin, and he walked toward them with the deliberate caution of the incipient infirm.
Commander bn Bem bowed before him as Kirk, Spock, and McCoy did their awkward best to imitate the gesture.
"I present the Supreme Integral of all Pandro," bn Bem announced grandiosely as he returned to an upright position, "Premier Kau afdel Kaun. This Other One I know not," he concluded in referring to the premier's companion.
"Greetings to you, bn Bem Commander. To you greetings also, Federation representatives, and thanks be for your returning the commander home," the premier said in a shaky voice. "For you back to be is good, Commander, though sorry This One is that your visit and study of Federation must interrupted so shockingly and suddenly be."
Despite his aged body, the premier spoke in English for the benefit of his alien guests, Kirk noted admiringly. There was no condescension in his voice, and neither was there the arrogance the captain had come to associate with Pandro: a result, Kirk decided, of the premier's long
association with the missing Tam Paupa.
He began gesturing to the younger Pandronian at his side. "Be known to Lud eb Riss, Commander and visitors. Of the atrocity on us visited he will tell you. This One tires." On unsteady legs the premier mounted the dais and slumped into the chair behind the curved desk.
"At the wall here," the younger Pandronian indicated, leading them to a blank space near the dais. Depressing a segmented tile caused a large map to descend. It was filled with Pandronian glyphs which none of the Federation officers could read, but a two-dimensional map was difficult to misinterpret no matter what its origin. Kirk felt certain he could identify large cities, mountains, an ocean, and other features.
"Was stolen the Tam Paupa," eb Riss told them, "several"—and he uttered a term in Pandronian which was evidently untranslatable—"ago. Thus far to it recover all efforts failed have."
With a hand he indicated a large symbol in the approximate center of the map. "We know it is not in Tendrazin or in any of other cities secondary nearby. Still scoured are other major cities of Pandro being. Search and seizing of known elements criminal nothing has produced. All are outraged by theft of Tam Paupa too."
"That's surprising," McCoy commented. "Why should the theft of the Tam Paupa bother them?"
"History has shown that crime flourishes best under stable governments, Doctor."
"Even on Vulcan?"
"Such sociological aberrations, Doctor, are more typical of less advanced societies such as—"
"Spock, Bones," Kirk muttered a warning. Both men returned their attention to eb Riss as if nothing had been said.
The Pandronian's hand moved to encircle a huge shaded area near Tendrazin, which grew to encompass a considerable section of the map west of the capital city.
"Has never been fully explored this region," eb Riss explained for their benefit. "Development halted here at Tendrazin. In this vast area we suspected the ibillters who have defiled Pandro have the Tam Paupa taken." eb Riss turned to stare at them, but his gaze was concentrated principally on bn Bem.
"Is thought that none there can survive, yet investigators believe perpetrators of blasphemy there have fled. Explained can be, since ibillters probably insane are."
"To the varbox fled?" an appalled bn Bem gasped. "Mad are they for surely."
"Why surely?" Kirk wanted to know. "What is this varbox?"
"A region filled with wild integrals and integrators, so dense and swampish to enter there is to court death in fashions unimaginable and certain."
"One thing I still don't understand," Kirk continued. "How can your capital city be built so close to a dangerous, unexplored wilderness?"
"Much of Pandro unexplored is, Outworlder," eb Riss snorted with typical Pandronian contempt. "You comprehend not."
"We admit we know very little of Pandro," Spock confessed. "We would like to know more. When formal association between Pandro and the Federation takes place, we—"
"If takes place," eb Riss snapped brusquely. "I explain simple for you. Are surrounded most of our cities by largely untraveled jungle wildernesses. Is due to nature of Pandronian biology. Is no such thing as Pandronian science of biology."
McCoy almost smiled. "Now, simple or not, that's impossible."
"Listen clear, McCoy Doctor," bn Bem advised him. "Are constantly changing, Pandronian lifeforms. Most shapes unstable and ever altering, like diccob without training. A few integrators like ourselves"—he indicated his own body and its three independent sections—"discovered long ago that to stay in permanent association was benefit to all parts. Others have likewise evolved.
"But for rest of much of Pandro life, existence is struggling continual to find satisfying combination of sections. So is ever changing much of Pandro zoology, and some plant life as well. How can one classify species which exist a few days only?"
"I see," Spock murmured. "Pandro's ecology is unstable. I assume, Commander, that such steady mutations are limited to the higher forms of life?"
"They'd have to be, Spock," McCoy pointed out.
"Is true," bn Bem confirmed, "or otherwise ever altering diseases, bacteriums and virus forms, would all Pandro life have wiped out long ago. But forms microscopic constant are. Permanent integrators like self can build resistance to others."
"Is why," eb Riss put in, "all Pandronian cities and towns with history have old fortress walls around them, built by ancestors to hold out dangerously changing jungle lifes."
"What I still don't understand," muttered McCoy, "is why anyone would want to steal your Tam Paupa. If even the criminal elements have an investment in keeping it where it belongs, who does that leave as a potential thief?"
"Would only we know that ourselves, outworlder," came the sad voice of Premier afdel Kaun from behind the great desk. "Unheard of is this thing." He winced and both hands went to the sides of his head. "Is certain one thing only: Unless Tam Paupa soon recovered is, This One will lose ability to make sound objective decisions."
The supreme ruler of Pandro assumed a woeful expression. "Is certain. Can feel already This One divisiveness and personal opinions entering mind. At same time slips away slow and steady the intelligence needed to govern Pandro. Is terrible helpless this feeling."
"We must Tam Paupa recover, Kirk Captain," an anxious bn Bem added. "Or Pandro society sinks again into mindless raging against self." The commander drew himself up. "Have done what of you was asked, Kirk Captain, in bringing This One home. To you and your government goes thanks of planet Pandro."
Spock leaned over and whispered to Kirk, "Remember, Captain, our opportunity to gain a decisive march on the Klingons by ingratiating ourselves forever in the minds of the Pandronians."
"I haven't forgotten, Mr. Spock," the captain replied. He faced the raised desk and directed his words to the premier. "Perhaps a new approach, or the benefit of outside thought processes, would be of some help to you, sir."
"Yourselves explain," afdel Kaun implored.
"Well," Kirk continued, "from what we've learned so far, we know that Pandronian science is far advanced in certain fields. Yet the Federation is more advanced in others. We're not afraid of the varbox."
"Bravery of ignorance," snorted eb Riss, but Kirk ignored him and pressed on.
"We have certain weapons in our possession, unknown on Pandro, which would be of much help in making one's way through the jungle you fear so strongly."
"Is true," bn Bem confirmed.
"Enough intelligence I retain to know that to accept your offer of aid is wiseness," the premier said solemnly. "How soon can you join expedition into varbox?"
"Inside an hour," Kirk replied quickly. "We'd like to return to our ship briefly to outfit ourselves properly for the journey, and also to obtain heavier weaponry. We'll need something more than hand phasers if the inhabitants of this jungle are as intimidating as you make them sound."
"Danger lies in not knowing what one may confront, Kirk Captain," bn Bem told him. "Time we will save if you beam back down into zintar yards."
"Whatever you say, Commander," Kirk replied, not bothering to inquire as to what a zintar yard might be. They would know soon enough. He flipped open his communicator as Spock noted a new set of coordinates.
"Kirk to Enterprise."
"Enterprise—Scott here, Captain."
"Beam us up, Mr. Scott, and stand by the transporter. We'll be coming back down shortly."
"Aye, Captain." A pause, then, "Back down, Captain?"
"That's right, Scotty. It looks like we're going to see more of Pandro than we originally thought . . ."
V
After drawing jungle fatigues, appropriate survival equipment, and type-two mounts for their hand phasers, the three officers beamed down to the surface of Pandro once again.
A zintar yard turned out to be an enormous stable, although Kirk was reminded more of a repair yard for large shuttlecraft. Rank on rank of the huge, barnlike metal sheds were arranged alongside one another before a broad sward of green g
rowth, cut short like grass.
Each long metal cell contained a sinuous reptilian creature which was a near analog of the ancient, idealized Terran Chinese dragon. But these were covered with gray, brown, and green fur.
"Like my own people," bn Bem informed them, "has found the zintar a combination of integrals advantageous to maintain. Advantageous to us as well." The commander introduced them to a tall, swarthy-looking Pandronian who sported short whiskers and managed to look like the Pandronian equivalent of a pirate.
"This is ab Af, who will our zintar in charge of be." ab Af made a curt gesture indicative more of a being interested in minding his own business than of standard Pandronian arrogance.
"eb Riss and six others will arrive to join soon," bn Bem continued. "They a third zintar will ride, while will a second supplies carry. Zintar is only creature by us tamed which not afraid of forest. Better than machine. Zintar runs off other Pandronian life and will not break down. Very little there is that a zintar is afraid of."
"I can believe that," Kirk agreed, staring up at the weaving, bobbing dragon-head of the forty-meter-long creature. It yawned elaborately, displaying thin, needlelike teeth in front and flat grinders behind. Four spikes or stiff whiskers—Kirk couldn't decide which—dangled from the front corners of upper and lower jaws.
bn Bem directed them to step aside as ab Af urged the monster out of its stable. The handler utilized verbal commands and prods from a small charged metal tube.
Kirk noticed the wide saddles set between protruding vertebrae on the creature's back even as bn Bem asked, "If all are ready, Kirk Captain?"
McCoy ran a hand through his hair as he examined the attenuated apparition. "I don't know if all are," was his comment, "but as long as I'm not expected to feed one of these oversized horned toads, I guess I'll give it a try."
"Good is, McCoy Doctor," bn Bem complimented him. He barked something in Pandronian to ab Af. The handler stood to one side of the swaying skull, touched the zintar between the front legs, and shouted a command.